In a cause-and-effect move on Thursday, the 49ers agreed to terms with Garner, the free agent running back, on a two-year contract worth $1.44 million, and waived running back Levy to make room for him. Garner's contract has yet to be signed and returned to the 49ers, but the deal has been completed.

Garner, a five-year veteran from the Philadelphia Eagles, was given a piddling $40,000 signing bonus to go with salaries of $400,000 in 1999 and $600,000 in 2000. He also has a $400,000 roster bonus that takes effect next year.

Garner was signed as a hedge against Hearst being slow or unable to recover from the broken left leg he sustained on the first play of San Francisco's divisional playoff loss to Atlanta on Jan. 9. The break, just above the ankle, has been slow to heal and general manager Bill Walsh feared Hearst might have a form of necrosis in the bone that prevents blood flow necessary for healing.

According to the 49ers, Hearst completed his tour of orthopedic specialists on Thursday with a visit to Baltimore and Dr. Michael Mont, who had been recommended to him by New York ankle specialist Dr. Bill Hamilton. Earlier in the week Hearst was examined in Seattle by Dr. Pierce Scranton, who told the player a minor surgical procedure might have him ready to play in eight to 10 weeks.

After getting three opinions, Hearst apparently canceled a trip to Birmingham, Ala., to see Dr. James Andrews, an orthopedic surgeon who performed hip surgery on former football and baseball player Bo Jackson.

As for Owens, it's a good thing he had elective laser eye surgery this week. He'll need improved vision to see all the commas and zeroes in the new contract he is expected to sign shortly.

It's a seven-year deal that could be worth as much as $27 million to the fourth-year wide receiver. The contract reportedly includes a $7.5 million signing bonus. The deal voids in the last two years if Owens is on the field for at least 25 percent of the team's offensive plays in any of the first five years of the agreement. That's a given.

As the 49ers' franchise player, Owens had been scheduled to make $3.5 million this season on a one-year deal. With the new contract, he'll get his up-front money in the form of the signing bonus, to go with a modest 1999 salary to help the team save $2.1 million against the salary cap.

Add to that the $400,000 the 49ers will save when former offensive lineman Harris Barton files his retirement papers with the NFL and the team should have enough room to begin signing its eight draft picks. None of the rookies is signed.

Rookies and selected veterans are scheduled to report to training camp at the University of the Pacific in Stockton on July 26. The rest of the squad reports three days later.